Brake beam strut



Sept 28, 1943- w. H. sAc;fs'rl's1--nalW 2,330,748

y BRAKE BEAM STRUT A Filed Sept., 30, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 pdf Sept 23,1943. w. H. sGsTETTl-:R 2,330,748

' BRAKE' BEAM sTRUT Filed sept. so, i940 2 sheets-sheet 2 UNITED STTEPatented Sept. 28, 1943 y h- JS PTNTOFFICE This invention relates toanew and improved brake beam strut. `More particularly, this 'infyvention relates to a brake` "beam strut off the rigid typewhich meetsthe structural and ten` sile strength requirements of various 4railroadsand associationsV and yet is capable `of use as either a right-handed'er a left-handedbrake beam strut.V j

e Referring to Figurel of the drawingsfor a rnomentjche term brake beamidentifies" an assemblage consisting oi amco'mpression member 1U, a.tension t' member l2 and alt'strut M On each end efthecompressionmember is mounted a brake shoe andl horizontal,movementjofthe brake Vbeam is derived from -a levervilf whichl ispivoted on the strutg The angle' of thellever l5 with the vertical`isflO" andthe pin "lg which holds the lever I6 to the`strutisatarangle,"f 90 to the lever. These angles are universal intheUnited States. Referring now to ligiirey l, it will be noted that thereare twe brake beams to each car truckofY four wheels andy that the brakebeams arefdirected away from eachother in applying the shoes to thewheels. It, therefore, follows that the brake beam strut identifiedbythe numeral iortheotherpairof wheels holds the lever `22 at the samebut oppositejlan` sie with. respectif? thslll 'Llhe lrekabeem Struts '4and 2Ubhe1f9re dfferfrsm e@ 11....Qther. in that the lev'erwopenings`,are -`8 apart'and the pin openings 100'@ apart; 'rnse'brek beam strutsare generally identiiiedfasleft; andrjightfy handed brake beam struts;`I4 being' a I efizhaiiA d strut and 20 being'a rightA-handedstrut.

It now being clear that the brake beam struts i are of two types, itwi'llffbe:4 appreciatedsthat there has long Vbeen pressureftowardestablish?` ingwhat might beider-ined asfei ni'versalgbiake beam strut(Under present' practice jit `is not only necessary to'maintai'nboth'right-V and'le'fthanded brake beam struts at a large number` o frepair points'on railroads but praetice duitefg erally is to stock leftKand rightbrake beams com` plete`,` that is'to say, beamshavingthecompres` sion and tension members" joined' by `left andv right-handedbrake beamstruts; `It is yeviiilent that if a universal 'brakebeam strutcouldbe devised, Ithe brake beam'` inventory"` could be halved. "f f f tWhile it has been proposed heretofore toprovide a rigid brake beam struthaving `two eppoi sitely disposed slots so Ithattme `strut may be usedin connectionwith either a left-hand ora right-hand brake beam,commercial success has notv been obtained by "such struts. The first:

object of this invention is to provide such a strut wherein` the slot inthe Astrut itself will have a width slightly exceedingthatofthebrakebearn lever to be insertedtherethrough and to-provide in`connection withv the other slot means, for holding a Ysupportingbrake'beam pinpat ,right angles y to u the slot, through which the brake.beam is to pass,v The ,means `providedare so positionedthat they do notinterfere with theslot through `which the brake beam leverv is to pass.Bythis' arrangementffthe pin `holding means per` ferml primarily af pinholding' function. They are not subjecttolateral forces from the brakebeamflever itself other than those derived through the pin. ArI hebrakebearn rleverjis held against lateral, displacement primarilyby `thestrut itself, an arrangement which eliminates wear factorsv in thepinwhereby my improved strut-is considered commerciallysafepy .4 A secondobject.ofthisfinventonis jtopro vide new and improved pin wearing platesand in conjunction therewith, new Vand' improved means for holding thepin wearinglplatesinassembled relationship withthe strut. Abrfake beamlever pin'is` comparatively large, 'approximatingin diameter thethickness ef abrake beam lever, see Figure 6 of: the dravvinygsn InQrdeit'o provide a mounting in a'pinwearin'gplatefhaving therequisitestrength, it is: desirabletoe# large the pin-y wearing plate'atits'` eentrallpo'rtion. As a result of this it is furthernecessary toprovide enlarged openings centrally' ofi the strut in order toreeeivethev plate. `One Aofjthe features of this invention is theprovision of tinterior channels va1; the'points of intersectionA of theslots inthe strut which provide the principal f they strut, whilelnevertheless providing means to havingl a hole disposed at an angle of90" with the inclination'of the slot; One ofthe features of theinvention isthe provision of pin wearing plates havingvaflatmsuifaceffor alignment with the wall of the `slot through`whicljifthe lever is Ato pass and othersurfaces at aneangle of to saidflat surface for holding the insert in theaejaeefnt slovenaV at4 thesame time, providing `a me'ansfor positionin'ga hole for-h'o1d` ing thepin at any angle Yof ,with the first named surface. vThe problem hereinencounl e hole, lling it in and then bushing it.

in the brake beam itself but in metal inserts which can be removed fromthe brakev beam without disconnecting the strut from either the tensionor the compression members. Moreover, it may be less expensive toreplace such inserts ally fastened to the member 32 at 44 and at itsopposite end 46 to a link 48. 'Ihe link 48 in turn is pivotally fastenedto the lever 22 which oper ates the brake beam 20. The lever 22 isconnected to a rod 50 which is reciprocated by suitable means as from anair compressor 52. On movement of the rod 50 in the direction of thearrow, the brake beam 38 is drawn toward the wheels 34 and 36 while theother brake beam is advanced toward the wheels 28 and 30, and inasmuchas this brakeassembly is 'fastened tothe truck only at one point, namely44, the two brake beams will apply pressure equally to their respectivesets of wheels.

The lever arms vI6 and 22 are inclined from the vertical in order thatthe link 48 may not pass f through a vertical line through the center ofthe truck, which point is normally occupied by other which have becomeworn by new inserts than it is to repair them. A further advantage ofthis structure is that it meets railroad and railroad association str utrequirements. A'strut must possess giventensile and structural strengthand Iwcanv varyV the size of the walls through which 'the lever slotsare cut to meet any commercial brakerbearn requirements. Another ad.-vantage oi my structurels its interchangeability with present'brakebeams. It is unnecessary to provide anyA additional elements in buildingup' a brake beam withY thisvbrake beam strut in place ofthe conventionalexisting strut, although such elements havebeen required for replacingconventional struts with, for example, swivel struts. l

' These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained inone embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, where- 1n:

lFigure 1 is a perspective View, partly diagrammatic of aV railroadtruck brake assembly;

Figure 2 is a plan'gview of my improvedbrake beam strut;

' Figure 3 is a view in side elevation thereofjA Figure 4 is raperspective'view of a reversible pin wearing plateor insert; l

` yFigure 5 is a perspective of-one brake beam including my brake beamstrut;

' 'Figure 6 is a View in section taken on the line 6-6 ofFigureZ; ,i Y

fFigure''? isY a view'in section taken on the line lf'IofFigureZ; f

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the pin wearing y Figure 9 is a planView of said plate;

Figure 10 is a side view inelevation .of the same;`and k,

Figure 11 is a perspective of a washer type of pin`"wearing.plate. v e vVContinuing to refer to the drawings. and particularly to Figure 1,the'numeral I0 identies a brake beam compression member, I2 a tensionmember and I4 a brake beam strut. The tension memberv I2 is fastened tothe compression member at points 2I and 23 and at either end of thecompression member are brake shoes 24 and 23 disposed to yengage Wheels28 and 38 respectively. Thecross bar 32 isl a portion of the truck frameand as such bears a substantially xed horizontal relationship tothewheels.

The other two wheels 34 and 36 of the truck are brake'd from the innerside of the truck by means of a brake beam generally identified by thenumeral 38 having on each end brake shoeslIIi and 42. The first brakebeam having the brake beam strut I4 is actuated by a lever I6 which ispivot struts.

III

parts of the truck equipment. The angle of inclination in United Statesequipment is 40. The angle of the pin as I8, seeFigure 5, with respectto the leveris normal,'that is 90. The two levers I6 and224 are on thesame side of the vertical and inasmuch as the brake beam struts aredirected in the opposite direction, the slots for the levers ,must beoppositely inclined. The brake beam strut I4 is a left-hand strut whilethe brake beam strut 20 is a right-hand strut.

It willbe understood that the problem is to provide abrake beam strutthat will receive a lever at eitherk angle of 40 with respect to theVertical. The conventional -compression member holder is shown in Figure5 and consists of an opening in a steel casting through which thecompression member is passed. There is, however, no holder which mayberotated through 80 and still obtain a proper purchase upon thecompression member. A gripping -means capable of holding thercompression member in only one position is universally provided on brakebeam Examining now my improved brake beam strut, andreferring to Figure2, the strut comprises a member which maybe tubular or solid having achannel 62 in a specially formed end through which channel acompressionmember, such as I!! in Figure 1, may be' passed. The tubular member 60has at its other end a pair of ears 64 and 66 for holding the tensionmember, such as I2. The twoends of the brake beam strut are conventionalinl order to facilitate their replacing existing strutsy withoutnecessitating new compression or tension members. There are many othermeans for holding tension members or compression members. j r

In the main portion of the strut .is cut two intersecting elongatedslots 68 and 18. Referring to Figure 7, the slot 68 is inclined at anangle of 40 with the vertical line I2 andthe slot 10 is similarlybutoppositely inclined. rThe two slots 68 and 'I0 are dened along the sidesby the upper and lower wall portions I4 and-'I6 respectively and the twoside wall portions 78 and 38, and it will be observed that the sidewallportions I8 andy 80 covera greater angularity with respect to the axisof the strut than do the upper and lower walls 14 and 16. Centrally ofeach slot is cut an enlarged circular opening as 32 and 84, see Figure2. These two openings pass completely throughthestrut and their extentkvmay be seen in Figure 6.

ing a ,brakenbami actuating 'lever through the 'strut at either' 'angleand there remain'srthe `problem of providing;` a means afor'ipivotingthe`lever to" the f strut' so `that anl operable-relationship therebetweenmay be-established," f e, A-e-'V-I'he means forf ,pivoting the lever onthestrut .comprise a pair of reversible pin wearing plates -or insertsidentified vby the numeralsand 88 various guresrof -the drawings,`Referring :to Figures 4, 891-and 1,0, thepin wearing plate 86 has'avbasesurface identified jby` the numeral 98 `lying-in aplane. Centrally, ofthisplate is; an enlargedl portion 92 in which is disposed-aholejMhaving an aXis at right angles to `theyplane surface` 98. gThe length ofthe plate 86 ,isV slightly lessthani the length of alslct 68, see`Figure 2,. Guiding surfaces,such as 96 and 98, see Figuref, aredisposed at an angle of 80 with respect to theplane surface 90. Thesurfaces |08 and |82 are Tin a plane atan angle to the surface S8rif-.105. whe-surface |84 is inaplane parallel tothe plane surface 90.Along the two long sides of the pin wearing plate are shoulders |86 and|08 cfa size to vsit inA thev channels III),`

ferring to Figure 7.

l2, maand nare- All over-'all dimensions;` of the insert are cor# lrespondinglyless than the over-all dimensions ofany one -of the slots sothat it is, possibleto introduce anwinsertlintoY one slotand then seatit, by means of theshOuIdersIUGand- I|l8in complementary channels suchas lill and ||2, see Figure 7, of an adjacent portion ot-aslot. It willbe observedthat after an insert hasbeen properly seated invoneslot aportion of it will be in qalignment `with thewalls of the other orintel'sectingslot. Forfexample, in Fig. '7 `the inserts` are shownseated in slot 68 so that `the faces 9B thereof arein alignment with there.- spective walls of the slot 1t. Rererrneto Figure 6, it will benoted that. the enlarged circular portion 32 ,ofaslot receives thepinwearing plate 86 fairly snugly, `but between this portionof the walls T8and 1G andthe pin wearing plate 3B there is no supporting relationship.Referring to Figuref'l,` itvwill be noted that the inclination of thesurface |88 effects a fairly smooth `joint between V.that surface and`the wall. members J4 and 'i8V which serves to maintainrthefgenerallycylindrical shape of thestrut. f

In assembling my vstrut with 'a lever arm such as I6, referring toFigure` 6, assumingthat a left-hand brake beam is wanted, the leverwould then be passed -through the strut to c-ccupy the positionindicated by the dotted line H8. Before the lever is passed through thestrut, however, a pair of pin wearing plates are successively introduced`through the slot which the leverI I6 will occupy and seated in thechannels so as to block the other slot 68. When the two pin weare andare subject to lateral forces from the brake beam lever only through thepin I8, thereby eliminating wear factors in the pin. In order to providea right-hand brake beam, all that is necessary is to position the pinwearing plates in 'the slot 18 and pass4 the lever I 6 through 'the slot82, similarly 'positioning the"f];ii`n`.v i f* Itwill be' noted thatAthe pin wearing plates fajeheldjin assembled relationship bymeans ofthe`lever arm lr6 andthe-walls of the strut which forms anslot; Ult' isnotbelieved that thisv particularstructilre'is-in any way crucial; Avari'ty of othermeans could be provided:V sV 1 "Importance `is notattached to l. the channels 'I gland the like or to the'angularity oftheWalls $361V and"8 8 with respect vto the planesurfaceSQ other fthanVthat these channels andthe sloping offthe'surfaces providebne means ofsecuring rmrelativ'e' positionvbetween the pinfW'e'ar-ing plates and theslots of the strut. `Also,1the1em ployment of a plane surfaceQjforieng'agemen't withthe lever arm l5 islprimarilya meanseof assistingthe general positioning of the'pin-wear- 'ingplates in" conjunction withconventional lever arms. The development -of lever' arms having otherthan `'fiat side surfaces `might warrantthe substitution of other-than a"pla-ne `surface for the surface Sil inthe pin wearing plates.` l 'As'for" the provision of pinplateshaving an axis fat` right angles to thelever |6,'this is be lieved uncjuestiohably desirable in order to avertundue wearon both pin and hole. It will be notedthat the walls196and=98are atlfan angle of to the surface 98, Vwhich angle is equali to theangle `between the two slots ."lll and 68. This angle is 'critical onlyinsofar as vrailroad andlrail#` roadassociation specicationscall forthis speslots .-areJ-elongatedfrand that the pin wearingplates'heretofore describeda-re elongated that the platesfmust-have;Suche Shaper; @Figure 1l, thereise shawn a Washer `tyre platelii whichstimuler and has alsheuldel |32- When -Such a pin wearing plate isemployed, a strut having 4an'fenlarged portion'.` alfther centralpolli-.L where thepinwearing'plates are tobe disposed is em'` ployed.Itis' notimpo'rtafrit that the pings/,caring plate be heldlja'gma'instrotational movement' riad hence it "follows thatthe pin'wearing'plat'esof the type shown in Figure l1 will function as satisfactory as thetype of pin wearing plate heretofore described as the preferred form.

Attention is called to the advantage of the reversibility of the pinwearing plates. Referring to the elongated type shown in Figure 4, thewear on such a plate occurs not only at the pin hole 94 but also onwhichever end wall |03 engages the inner end of a slot as |05 in Figure5. Referring to Figure l, it will be observed that the braking assemblyis such that the pressure on the pin Wearing plate against the strut isalways on that side of the strut adjacent to the compression member. Itfollows, therefore, that a pin wearing plate Wears at only one end. Bybeing reversible, Vin the full sense, whereby the pin wearing plate isturned lengthwise through as well as sidewise through 180 in order tofit into the opposite slots, it is possible to wear a pin wearing plateatboth ends. This clearly increases the useful life of the plate.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided a strut of the rigidtype having walls 14, 16, 18 and 80 integral with the two end holdingmembers for the compression and tension mem,-v bers whereby all movableor frictional parts are eliminated so that structural and tensionvstrength requirements of railroadsvand railroad Astruction it will bepossible to cut in half the brake beam inventory of railroads whilenevertheless advancing the sameT repair surface asin the past.Additionally, my structure substitutes comparatively inexpensive wearingplates for carryingthe hole which sustains the wear in place of thestrut itself. Several advantages derive from the use of these wearingplates. If it is profitable to ream Iand rebush these holes when theyhave become too large, they are more easily removed from the brake beamassembly than is a brake beam strut. On the other hand, if the hole isworn to a place where it cannot be rebuilt and rebushed, the discardingof a pin wearing plate is far less expensive than the dise carding of abrake beam strut. Additionally,

this strut is of a type which may be assembled with existing compressionand tension members which form two of the three major parts of a brakebeam. In this connection themeans for holding the brake beam strut toeither the compression or thetension member as shown in Figures 2 and 3are to vbe understood as conventional. Thereare other types which couldbe substituted therefor. i f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. A brake beam strutof the rigid typecomprising an elongated member, a pair of slotsextending longitudinally of said elongated member and intersecting eachother at an angle of approximately 80 whereby to define in*the'elongated member two intersecting pairs of substantially parallelwall portions, an enlarged socket in each of said slots, and meansmounted in one slot and the sockets therein having a portion thereof inalignment'with the walls of the second slot for holding a brake beamlever pin at an angle of 90 to the second'slot, wherebyk a a brake beamlever pin at an angle respect tothe second slot.

willbe held against lateral displacement.

f' 2. 'A brake beam strutof the rigid -type comprising an elongatedlmember, a pair of slots extending longitudinally of said elongatedmember and intersecting each other lat'an angle of approximately wherebyto define in ltheelongated member two intersectingpairslof`substantially parallel wall portions, lan enlarged socket in each slotapproximatelymidwaythe length of each, and means'disposed in the twosockets of one of said slot@J so as to form substantially continuouswalls in thesecond Aslot -for holding of with 3. A brake beam strut ofthe rigidtype comprising an elongated member, a pair of slots extendinglongitudinally of said elongated member 'and intersecting each other atan angle of approximately 80 whereby to define in the elongated membertwo intersecting pairs'of substan-4 tially parallel wall portions, anenlarged socket in 'each slot approximately midway the length of each; apair of elongated pin wearing plates having an enlarged central portionfor seating in said sockets and being oppositelylpositioned to close oneslot so as to form a continuous wall for the other slot, and means insaid pin wearing plates for seating a brake beam pin in one slot atsubstantially right angles to the other slot whereby ra brake beam willbe held against lateral rocking by the walls of the slot in theelongated member.

4. A brake beam strut of the rigid'type comprising an elongated member,a pair of slots extending longitudinally of said elongated member andintersecting leach-other at an angle of approximately 80 whereby todefine in the elongated member two intersecting pairs of substantiallyparallel wall portions,channels in the elongated member attheintersection points of said slots, a socket in each slot atapproximately its midpoint, a pair of elongated pin wearing plateshaving an enlarged central portion with a lever pin hole therethroughseated in said identical channels so as to close one slot and to form acontinuous wall for the second slot, and aligned holes in said pinwearing plates at right angles to 50 the second slot.

WILLIAM` H. SAGSTETTER.

